History of organ and tissue transplantation

History of organ and tissue transplantation

The history of successful organ and tissue transplantation is only a century old, but is marked by many
milestones that have saved many lives. Australia has been a leader in pioneering liver transplantation.

Year Milestone Location

1823 First skin auto graft transplantation of skin tissue from one Germany
location on an individual’s body to another location
1905 First human-to-human corneal transplant. This was also the Moravia (now Czech Republic)
first successful human-to-human transplant of any kind
1908 First skin allograft-transplantation of skin from a donor to a Switzerland
recipient
Early Australia begins corneal transplants Sydney and Melbourne
1940’s
1954 First living related kidney transplant (identical twins) USA
1955 First heart valve allograft into descending aorta Canada
1962 First kidney transplant from a deceased donor USA
1965 Australia’s first successful (living) kidney transplant Queen Elizabeth Hospital, SA,
Australia
1967 First successful liver transplant USA
1967 First heart transplant South Africa
1968 First pancreas transplant USA
1979 Living related pancreas (mother to child) USA
1981 First heart/lung transplant USA
1983 First successful lung transplant Canada
1983 Cyclosporine approved for commercial use in USA. A USA
revolutionary anti-rejection drug, it heralded a new era for
kidney, liver and heart transplantation
1984 First heart-liver transplant USA
1984 Australia’s first successful heart transplant St Vincent’s Hospital, NSW,
Australia
1985 Australia’s first successful liver transplant Princess Alexandra Hospital,
Brisbane, QLD, Australia
1985 Australia’s first successful kidney transplant from a Queen Elizabeth Hospital,
deceased donor Adelaide, Australia
1986 First successful double lung transplant Canada
1986 The ‘Brisbane Technique’ for splitting livers to benefit three Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD,
recipients initiated Australia
1986 Australia’s first successful heart/lung transplant St Vincent’s Hospital, NSW,
Australia
1987 Australia’s first successful kidney/pancreas transplant Westmead Hospital, NSW,
Australia

October 2009
History of organ and tissue transplantation

Year Milestone Location

1987 First segmental liver transplant (for children) Princess Alexandria Hospital, QLD,
Australia
1988 First successful intestinal transplant UK
1988 First successful liver-bowel transplant UK
1988 First two-in-one liver transplant (one liver is split for two France
recipients)
1989 First successful living liver transplant Princess Alexandria Hospital, Qld,
Australia
1989 First combination heart, liver, and kidney transplant USA
1990 First living related lung transplant USA
1990 Australia’s first successful single lung transplant St Vincent’s Hospital, NSW,
Australia
1992 Xenotransplant (pig liver to human) USA
1992 Xenotransplant (baboon’s liver to human) USA
1995 World’s first laparoscopic live-donor nephrectomy in which USA
a patient’s kidney is removed through a 5 to 6 cm incision.
1995 Transplantation of all abdominal organs USA
1998 First successful human hand transplant (later removed) France
2002 First single segment liver transplant on a baby (24 days old) Princess Alexandra Hospital, Qld,
Australia
2003 Australia’s first triple transplant (heart, lung, liver) Princess Alexandra Hospital, Qld,
Australia
2005 First successful partial face transplant France
2005 First living donor islet transplant Japan
2006 World’s first kidney/liver/pancreas transplant Royal Price Alfred Hospital, NSW,
Australia
2009 Paediatric transplant for small bowel, liver, pancreas and USA
two kidneys

Sources include:
Chapman, JR, 1992, Transplantation in Australia—50 years of progress. MJA 157: 47
www.health.qld.gov.au/pahospital/news_events/docs/010607.pdf
www.anzcotr.org.au/Text/11921580
http://www.medhunters.com/Article/transplantTimelineLiverPancreas
Australian Department of Health and Ageing National Clinical Taskforce on Organ and Tissue Donation –
Final Report 2008

For more information visit www.donatelife.gov.au

Make sure you and your loved ones discuss Australian Organ and Tissue Authority
your wish to be an organ donor. Some 2000 Level 5, 51 Allara Street Canberra ACT 2600
Australians waiting for donor organs wish PO Box 295 Civic Square ACT 2608
you would. Telephone 02 6198 9800 Facsimile 02 6198 9801

October 2009 2
Your wish can save a life. But only if you tell someone!